Cushioning device for foot wearing-apparel.



J. S. YOUNG.

OUSHIONING DEVICE FORFOOT WEARING APPAREL.

' APPLICATION FILED 11.4, 1910 986,666, Patented Mar.14,1911.

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GUSHIONING DEVICE FOR FOOT WEARING-APPAREL.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Application filed April 4, 1910. Serial No. 553,404.

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Be it known that I, J 01m. S. YoUNo, citizeu of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new.

and use 1 Improvements in Cushioning Devices for Foot Wearing-Apparel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in wearing apparel, with special reference to foot wear, the object being to provide a novel and practical cushioning feature for the heels of boots, shoes, or slippers, in order to minimize the jar due to wa king or running, and likewise minimize the well known trait of, running down at the heel, by so adapting the tread portion of said heel that it will automatically adjust itself to peculiarities in walking, and will present an even wearing surface at all times. 1 f

\Vith the above special objects in view my invention involves the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of my device as applied to the heel of a shoe. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the main or upper securing hollow plate member. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower or adjustable plate. Fig. 4 is a group view of'a resilient member and securing means therefor, and Fig. 5 shows a fragmental sectional view with modified securing means for the resilient members, involving a rivet head instead of a set screw.

Throughout the different yiews shown in the drawing-the numeral 1 designates the outer sole of a shoe, which also affords a securingmeans for the heel ortion. Rigidly attached to said portion 1 1s a hollow memher 2, forming part of the heel, the vertically disposed walls of which are more or less tapered. This said portion 2 is preferably constructed of a metallic material, this being optional however, and in confi iration is made to conform to any style 0 heel desired, is provided with a plurality of apertures 3, and in its up r face, surrounding said apertures, are t e square countersunk portions 4; the utility of which will be further explained hereinafter. Operatively seated in said hollow member 2, and adapted to telescope therein, is the. plate 5, having the downwardly depending flange or. rim 6 around itsentu-e periphery, which is tapered in conformity with the walls of the member 2, andis provided with a lurality of apertures 7 that come in ahnement with the said apertures 3. This said member 5 is adapted for free movement within the member 2, and carries a filler block 8 secured in position by any suitable means, which latter member is provided with a plurality of counter-sunk apertures 9 that come in alinement with the apertures 3 and '7.

Positioned intermediate of the two members 2 and 5 are the resilient coil springs 10, which have a bearing against the under side of the part 2 and upper face of the part 5. These said members 10 are held in position 'and surround posts 11, which seat through the apertures 3 and 7 and are preferably provided with the square heads 12 that seat in the correspondingly shaped counter-sunk portions 4, thus affording a locking feature to prevent said posts from turning when the set screws 13' are inserted in the lower ends of said posts. These said screws 13 enter through the apertures 9, and when turned into securing engagement with the said members 11 also bear against the filler block 8, and serve to assist in retaining that member in position, and likewise prevents the final step in the assembling process is the addition of thebottom or tread piece of leather 14., which is held by means of pegs 15, orany suitable means.

As explained in the preamble to this specification the primary object of my invention is to provide a cushioning feature to the heel portion of boots, shoes, or similar footwear. Every step taken by the user'of foot wear equipped with my device will have a tendency to telescope the movable 1nemberm5 into the part 2, and by so doing will depress the resilient spring members 10 and set up a positive cushioningloo action that will minimize the shock or jar due to locomotion; the size and tension of said resilient members being regulated to suit the weight of the user.

Another advantage of my invention will 105 be the even wearing of the tread portion 14 which, on account of its adaptability to adjustment, will, to a great extent, overcome the peculiarities in walking, and at all times present an even wearin surface; thus 110 avoiding the common resu t of running down at the heel.

While the resilient s ring members 10 are considered preferab e for the purpose intended, other means, such as flat springs, rubber, desired result, in a modified sense, be vaccomplished.

From the description, taken in connectlon with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction, and of the method of operation, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and while I have described the principle of the operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the-device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

What I claim as new, is:

In combination with foot wearing appal-cl, a cushioning device comprising the heel, involving a hollow member secured to the outer sole, and provided with a plurality etc. could be substituted and the a of apertures surrounded by counter-sunk portions; an apertured adjustable element,

provided with a downwardly depending flange, adapted to telescope within the said hollow member; a filler block within the said adjustable element ovided with counter-sunk apertures which register with the apertures formed in the adjustable element;

JOHN S. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

BEATRICE FITZGERALD, J. P, HEGLEMAN.

ller block; coil springs seated around 

